Erdogan breaks ground for Tersane Istanbul

By Etem Geylan </p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish president on Saturday broke ground for a giant project that will feature science and culture centers, hotels, museums as well as marinas at Istanbul’s historic Halic (Golden Horn) Shipyard.</p> <p>The project — titled Tersane Istanbul — will positively contribute to Turkey’s tourism revenues, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the audience at the shipyard on Istanbul’s European side.</p> <p>After the completion of the project, Erdogan said, it will be the largest science center in Europe.</p> <p>Around 30 million people are expected to visit the Tersane Istanbul when it is opened, he added.</p> <p>The first phase of the project is expected to open in November 2020, said the Turkish president.</p> <p>He said that the project will feature three museums — including Turkey’s first women museum as well as Sadberk Hanim Museum, which will be moved from Istanbul’s Sariyer district to the new location, and a Turkish-Islamic arts museum.</p> <p>Last year, Erdogan had said the science center will hold exhibitions on digital and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, maritime and shipyards, and science history.</p> <p>The science center is expected to have “a technology center with an international reputation, a digital thematic library and innovation center, training programs, workshops and science activities.&quot; </p> <p>The Halic Shipyard was established in 1455, two years after Istanbul was conquered by Sultan Mehmet II.